MWRD FLOW - February 2026
For the Love of Water (FLOW) is the MWRD monthly news summary.
In this edition:
Upcoming Events
MWRD Board of Commissioners September meetings
Thursday, February 5 and 19, 10:30 a.m.
The MWRD Board of Commissioners will hold its Regular Board Meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 5 and Thursday, February 19.
Public comments may be made at the Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building, 100 E. Erie Street, Chicago, during the Public Comment period. Visit mwrd.org to watch the meeting online. Click on "Board of Commissioners" in the upper right corner, then click on Board calendar. An "In Progress" link under the Video Column will be active when there is a meeting in session. Closed captioning is available.
Monthly Virtual Tour set for Tuesday, February 10 at 2 p.m.
Have you ever wondered what happens to the water after it goes down the drain? Follow the flow with the MWRD on a virtual tour of our wastewater treatment process on Tuesday, February 10 at 2 p.m.
Join us for an inside look at how we protect our waterways, reduce pollution, and even turn waste into renewable resources—all from the comfort of your home!
Whether you're a student, an environmental enthusiast, or just looking for a unique adventure, this tour is packed with fascinating science and sustainable solutions. Sign up today and get a fresh perspective on water reclamation!
Black History Month event to highlight STEM on February 26
On Thursday, February 26, 2026, at noon – 1 p.m., the MWRD will host a lunch event to celebrate Black History Month at the Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building, 100 E. Erie St., Chicago. The theme is “Waves of Innovation: 100 Years of Black Excellence in STEM and Water.”
Our featured speaker is Dr. Kelli Easterly (pictured), who serves as the Managing Director of STEM at Distinctive Schools. She leads the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of high-quality STEM learning experiences across the network. She holds a Doctor of Chiropractic from National University of Health Sciences, a Master of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from DePaul University. Seating is limited, and R.S.V.P. is required.
Monitoring and Research Monthly Seminar set for Friday, February 27 at 10:30 a.m.
“Digester Gas Upgrades: A Case Study from South Bend"
On Friday, February 27 at 10:30 a.m., Mike Debnar, Mechanical Engineer; Joe Dinkel, Vice President; and Katie Richardson, Associate Vice President, TY Lin, will discuss “Digester Gas Upgrades: A Case Study from South Bend."
In person: Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, Lue-Hing R&D Complex, 6001 West Pershing Rd., Cicero, IL. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance by emailing MnRSeminars@mwrd.org or calling 708-588-4264 or 708-588-4059.
Virtual: Go to Seminars and Presentations on February 27 for the link to access the seminar.
For additional information, please email MnRSeminars@mwrd.org.
The seminar is eligible for Professional Development Credits/CEUs.
MWRD in the News
Pan-African flag-raising ceremonies
The MWRD celebrates Black History Month with the raising of the Pan-African flag!
The MWRD kicked off Black History Month with its seventh annual Pan-African flag-raising ceremony at the Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building and all seven water reclamation plants. This event honors the achievements of the Black community and MWRD’s commitment to diversity. Watch the event video.
January 14, 2026, “How and why the flow of the Chicago River was reversed,” NBC 5
Only in Chicago can it be said that the river flows in reverse.
NBC Chicago’s Lexi Sutter interviewed MWRD President Kari K. Steele to find out how and why the river was reversed.
January 12, 2026, “Scientists and advocates hail catch of smallmouth bass as sign of improved Cal-Sag Channel water quality,” Daily Southtown
Mike Ress, an environmental research technician at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, said he was anxious at first to work in the Cal-Sag Channel, as his south suburban family told him to avoid the waterway growing up due to its reputation for poor water quality. But Ress said through his work with the MWRD he has found the channel has become a wild, vibrant ecosystem with herons and beautiful fish species such as the pumpkinseed, which he and other MWRD scientists attribute to regulatory changes and new water treatment systems.
Most recently, Ress and his coworker, Mike Portala, who is also from the south suburbs, made history in finding the largest smallmouth bass in more than 51 years of MWRD fish monitoring on the Chicago Area Waterway System. Read the full story.
Resources
Flood Response Resource Guide
The MWRD has released a first edition of the new “What to Do and Where to Get Help: Flood Response Resource Guide.”
The guide provides practical steps for residents to follow before, during, and after a flood. It also lists key agencies, local resources, and contact information to help those impacted recover more quickly. This new tool is designed to make it easier for residents to find reliable information when they need it most. The guide can be found at mwrd.org and hard copies are available by emailing public.affairs@mwrd.org.
Sign up for Overflow Action Alert text messages
Sign up to receive Overflow Action Alert text messages. When we announce an Overflow Action Alert, you will be reminded to reduce your use of water before, during and after a storm to help prevent excess water from entering local sewers.
Join Our Team!
Are you looking for a new career?
If so, visit our online employment center to register, apply and learn more about jobs and the selection process at the MWRD. We also participate in job fairs throughout the county so stop by our table if you are in attendance! Staff in a variety of job classifications were interviewed to discuss their background and work that they do. The videos can be found on the MWRD YouTube page.
Stormwater Partnerships available for local government
The MWRD can help local government organizations pay for the construction of stormwater infrastructure on public property in Cook County.
The program funds projects that address flooding through a variety of traditional engineering solutions including localized detention, upsizing critical storm sewers and culverts, pumping stations, establishing drainage ways, as well as green infrastructure. This infrastructure can reduce flooding and prevent damage to homes and businesses.
Throughout the year, the MWRD reviews applications and prioritizes projects for partnerships. The selected partner is responsible for their project's design, contract advertisement and award, acquiring any necessary property rights, construction, and long-term maintenance. There are four partnership programs offered on a regular basis.
Keep medications out of our water!
Medications can end up in waterways. This includes pet medications too!
These drugs can pass through our water reclamation plants (WRPs) and enter rivers and streams. This can harm fish, plant life and our waterways. Controlling what goes down the drain is an easy and effective way to protect the environment.
How you can help
You can help keep medications from entering our waterways by disposing of unwanted medicine properly.
- Never flush unused medications or toss expired medicines in the garbage.
- Take unused and expired medications to Cook County Prescription Drug Take Back Network locations.
- For over-the-counter products, monitor your supply. Store them in one spot in your home to avoid accidentally buying extras.
The MWRD is proud to play a role in collecting unwanted medicine and keeping our drains medicines free. Our boxes are located near the entrances at the Stickney, Calumet and O'Brien WRPs and in the lobby of the Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building in Chicago. Do not leave medication outside the box. If a box is locked, please return during hours of operation or visit another location.
MWRD drug collection box locations
What is the key to pollution prevention when it comes to are Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manmade fluorinated compounds that are designed to be stable and have been in commercial use since the 1940s. The stability of the chemicals makes them difficult to degrade which is why they are often called “forever chemicals.” PFAS are in commercial, consumer, and industrial products and and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that they are widely present in the environment; nonstick cookware, cosmetics, sunscreens, washing clothes, and fire-fighting foams can introduce PFAS into the environment.
Like other water utilities across the U.S., the MWRD is addressing how best to manage PFAS in the water environment. The MWRD’s seven water reclamation plants (WRPs) do not produce nor use PFAS but are passive receivers of these chemicals discharged to local sewers. As a result, wastewater can contain trace amounts of these chemicals from industrial, commercial and household sources. The MWRD’s WRPs were not designed to remove these chemicals during the treatment process.
The key to pollution prevention is addressing the source of PFAS.
The MWRD is closely following and proceeding based on the developing science on the potential impacts of PFAS. The MWRD is also working to identify and reduce industrial discharges of PFAS, learning how the discharge from these sources can be reduced and encouraging federal and state regulators to focus on stopping these chemicals at the source. The MWRD’s pretreatment program regulates industrial discharges to protect the treatment process and valuable resources the MWRD recovers.
Permanent Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collections
Dispose of your household chemicals responsibly and recycle your old computers.
- Tuesdays 7 am - Noon
- Thursdays 2 pm - 7 pm
- The first Saturday of every month 8 am - 3 pm
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) may be dropped off at the City of Chicago's permanent Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility at 1150 N. North Branch Street (two blocks east of the Kennedy Expressway at Division Street).
Household chemicals and computers often contain hazardous substances, such as lead, mercury, and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) which can contaminate our air, soil and water. Through proper disposal methods or recycling, these hazardous substances are reprocessed and reused in an environmentally-responsible manner.
The Household Chemical and Computer Recycling Facility accepts a range of items, including household cleaners, oil-based paints, solvents, cell phones, compact fluorescent light bulbs, computers, and related equipment, to name a few. It does not accept business/commercial sector wastes, explosives, fireworks or latex paint.
During business hours, an attendant will help unload your vehicle and accept your materials. Materials should not be left outside the facility unattended.
Coming soon! South Suburban College, 15800 State St., South Holland, will be the site of a new permanent HHW facility opening this fall. Residents will be able to dispose of household chemicals, rechargeable batteries, oil-based paints, solvents, medications, fluorescent light bulbs, antifreeze, motor oil, gasoline, auto fluids, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, aerosol cans and lawn, pool and hobby chemicals. This facility will be located next to the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) Center where residents can dispose of electronics, polystyrene foam, clothing and textiles, personal healthcare equipment and general household recycling materials. CHaRM has taken in nearly 2.5 million pounds of materials. Read more.
Doing Business with the MWRD
Watch a video on how to submit a responsive bid or proposal.
The MWRD Department of Procurement and Materials Management procures materials and services required for operations in compliance with the MWRD Purchasing Act. The mission of the Diversity Section is to ensure that minority owned (MBE), women owned (WBE), small (SBE), and veteran owned (VBE) business enterprises are given equal opportunities to participate in the MWRD’s construction program and professional service contracts in excess of $100,000.
Our procurement process is designed to ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars, so we encourage you to register to become a vendor. Sign up for a weekly email listing new contract announcements by emailing forea@mwrd.org.
Please report waterway blockages, suspicious dumping to waterways or sewers, or odors.
Call 800-332-DUMP (3867) or in Spanish 855-323-4801
Be sale smart this winter!
With winter firmly settled over the Chicago area, residents and businesses are turning to road salt to keep sidewalks, walkways, and streets safer and more reliable for daily travel.
The MWRD advocates for a prudent approach to the management of road salt.
Road salt can provide safety, but it also has unwanted ramifications for the local water environment. Rock salt (sodium chloride) and salt runoff can be harmful to pets, bodies of water and soil along roadways and sidewalks. In addition, excessive road salt can impact vegetation, as well as contaminate groundwater and drinking water.
According to the Salt Smart Collaborative, chloride levels in northeastern Illinois rivers, lakes and wetlands have been on the rise for decades. The challenge with protecting Lake Michigan and the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) is that road salt use increases with urban development, and the more development, the more miles of roads and walkways that need winter deicing. All that salt eventually makes its way to area waterways, and MWRD water reclamation plants cannot always filter it out before releasing it as clean water into the CAWS.
Follow these guidelines to protect the environment:
1. Shovel first. Salt should only be used after the snow is removed and only in areas needed for safety.
2. Size up. More salt does not mean more melting. A 12-ounce coffee mug of salt should be enough for a 20-foot driveway or 10 sidewalk squares (250 square feet).
3. Spread. Distribute salt evenly, not in clumps. Clumped salt is wasted salt.
4. Sweep. If there is leftover salt on the ground after the ice melts, then too much salt was used. Sweep up leftover salt to keep it out of local rivers and streams.
5. Switch. Untreated salt stops working if the temperature is below 15 degrees. When temperatures drop that low, switch to sand for traction or choose a different deicer formulated for colder temperatures.
Tips to prepare your home for excess water
Read our "Green Neighbor Guide"
It's never too soon to work on projects that can make your home more resilient to stormwater.
Some actions can be as simple as not over-fertilizing your lawn and garden, installing a rain barrel or planting a native tree. No matter what action you choose, the MWRD "Green Neighbor Guide" can help. It gives instructions on stormwater management projects that you can install on your property. For example, detailed instructions are offered for disconnecting downspouts; installing rain barrels or cisterns to capture stormwater for reuse; installing dry wells and rain gardens to allow stormwater to filter into the ground; and replacing asphalt and concrete surfaces with permeable paving to reduce stormwater runoff. Watch our YouTube video to see how a rain barrel is installed.
Rain barrels for sale
Rain barrels are available to residents of Cook County through the MWRD website. Rain barrels capture rainwater from your roof for later use. They can help prevent basement backups, street flooding and sewer overflows by keeping rainwater out of the sewer system.
You can use rain barrel water to water your lawn or garden and clean your work boots, tools and bikes.
Rain barrels can hold up to 55 gallons. The overflow opening lets you connect a hose to direct overflow away from your foundation or to connect several rain barrels. Our rain barrels:
- Are made from durable high-density polyethylene.
- Come in four colors (black, blue, terra cotta and gray) and may have different shapes depending on the vendor.
- Include instructions, a leaf and mosquito filter screen, a flexible downspout connector, a spigot/tap, and an overflow hose.
- Free delivery.
Tour an MWRD facility
Each year, our seven water reclamation plants process approximately 450 billion gallons of wastewater. With a daily treatment capacity exceeding 2 billion gallons, the MWRD plays a critical role in protecting our region’s water quality. Learn more about the work of the MWRD on our YouTube channel, watch a virtual tour, or schedule an in-person group tour.
Schedule a speaker
The MWRD offers in-person and virtual presentations for all ages on subjects such as:
- Overview of the MWRD
- Careers in water
- History of water in the Chicago region, including reversing the Chicago River
- How sewers work
- Explanation of the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan or Deep Tunnel
- How wastewater treatment works
- Recovering resources from wastewater
- Stormwater management flood control
- What is Green Infrastructure
- What you can do to protect water quality and reduce flooding
Please request a speaker for your group or class at least three weeks in advance.
Request a community event representative
The MWRD actively engages with communities across Cook County throughout the year, participating in events such as back-to-school fairs, environmental expos, farmers markets, municipal gatherings, career days, and STEM-related activities. Our representatives provide engaging materials and interactive activities designed for all ages, offering insights into our work, areas of responsibility, and practical tips on how to enhance local water quality.
New! MWRD resource guide empowers communities to adopt green infrastructure practices
The MWRD has created a green infrastructure community guide, which aims to help communities manage stormwater through green infrastructure techniques that employ natural solutions to mitigate flooding and improve water quality. This guide equips municipal leaders, planners, public works directors, engineers, staff, and other decision-makers with valuable information, resources, and guidance for incorporating green infrastructure into their communities to better manage stormwater.
Extras
Historical Photo of the Month
A nearly complete bridge at Randolph Street over the South Branch of the Chicago River looking west from an elevated railroad platform on April 24, 1903.
February 2026 Calendar
Phosphorus accumulating organisms, also known as PAOs, work to remove nutrients like phosphorus from wastewater systems. They tend to clump together, and in this case, are sending a Valentine's Day greeting to MWRD scientists.
